Thornton Force

CC206 THORNTON FORCE From the M6 leave at junction 36 and follow the A65 signposted to Kirkby Lonsdale/Skipton. At Ingleton the waterfalls walk is clearly signposted .

A reasonable admission charge gives access to a car-park in a spacious meadow. The walk is outlined on your admission ticket and the whole route is so clearly marked that it would be almost impossible to lose your way. Thornton Force is the name given to the highest, 46 feet, of the numerous waterfalls on this famous walk at Ingleton.

1 Follow the path upstream, away from the carpark. The first half of this walk through Swilla Glen, follows the River Twiss upstream. Some of the uphill parts of the path are fairly steep but the track you follow is well provided with steps and even handrails where necessary. As the walk progresses you find yourself in a thickly wooded area with the noise of cascading water almost constantly in your ears.

2 As you leave the Pecca Falls area you emerge into open countryside and within a few hundred yards catch your first sight of Thornton Force ahead on the right. Pass the falls on the path which climbs fairly steeply here and then more gently once past the waterfall. Cross the footbridge over the river then bear right upwards towards a well-signed Drovers Road .Turn right on this track and pass a farm. Follow the signed footpath away from the farm down to the road.

3 Cross the road and pass Beezley's farm. Take a signed path to the right where eventually you will pass Beezley Falls and Snow Falls

The terrain in this half of the walk is once again through a thickly wooded gorge and is mainly down hill. The river is the Doe. There are some picturesque, tiny coves by the river inviting you to pause and absorb the beauty and maybe even have a picnic. Finally a bridge takes you to the other side of the river and a gentle walk on the level back to the centre of Ingleton, just ten minutes away from the car park.